Mowden 27 Bucks 27

By Chris Harrison - January 7 2009

Miller returns
West Bucks made the journey to Mowden Park in their latest Tees Valley Merit League match.
The home side scored first when the No8 was held up short from a scrum pick up but their forwards picked again to crash over (5-0).

They scored next from a pushover try from a 5 yard scrum (10-0).
The game was a battle between Mowdens powerful pack and Wests willingness to throw the ball around whenever they won it which was to prove difficult as Mowden dominated the scrums.
After 25 minutes West put together a move which got them close to the home line and mobile prop Pete Considine barrelled over from 5 metres out. Fly half Phil Wallis converted (10-7).
However once again West gave away easy field position and Mowdens pack pressurised their try line before going over in the corner (15-7).
The second half was to prove more successful for the visitors as they were able to get more into the game. Wallis converted a penalty after 5 minutes (15-10).
However a lapse of concentration at the kick off and poor tackling from the subsequent scrum gifted Mowden an easy converted try (22-10).
West were playing some good rugby at times and a great 60 yard move took them into the home 22. From a lineout blindside wing Paul Miller came off Wallis and crashed through a couple of tackles to go over by the posts. Wallis converted (22-17).
A tremendous break from the back of a line out from flanker James O’Brien which was carried on by the rest of the backrow (Alex Barker & Sam Powell) took West within kicking range and Wallis converted a penalty (22-20).
Mowden were next to score when they won Wests lineout throw and hammered once again at the try line. When Wests desperate defence seemed to have turned the tide Mowden moved the ball quickly wide to go over in the corner (27-20).
West now won a Mowden lineout on the home teams 22 and 2 mispasses later the ball was in the hands of winger Nige Bulmer. Although he had plenty to do he rounded his opposite number and beat 2 more men on the way to the line for a tremendous score. Wallis converted with a tremendous touchline kick.
Mowden finished the game on the attack and had opportunities to take the game but the Bucks held them out by the skin of their teeth.
Mowden should really have won this game, they dominated possession, missed kicks and were held up over the West line on 4 or 5 occasions. But the young West team showed tremendous resilience and appetite. This mixed with their willingness to play fast rugby when they had the ball gave them an unlikely draw.
Other positives for West were debuts for U17’s flanker James O’Brien and Will Turnbull in the centre. Paul Miller played his first game for 2 years after a terrible run of bad luck on the injury front and Phil Wallis and Andy Robson played their first games for some time.